Internet Acceptable Use Agreement

Please read this document carefully before signing.

We are very pleased to bring Internet access to Northern Heights and believe the Internet offers vast, diverse, and unique resources to both students and teachers. Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by offering information sources to be used for research and inquiry.

With access to computers and people all over the world also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the contest of the school setting. On a global network it is impossible to control all materials and a user may discover controversial information. USD 251 firmly believes that the valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may discover material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the district.

These guidelines are provided to help ensure that Internet resources are used in a manner that is consistent with the goals of the District. They are also available to make you aware of the responsibilities you are about to acquire. In general these responsibilities are efficient, ethical and legal use of the Internet. If a user violates any of these provisions, future access may be denied.

The signature(s) at the end of this document is (are) legally binding and indicates the party (parties) who signed has (have) read the terms and conditions carefully and understand(s) their significance.

Internet - Terms and Conditions of Use

A. Privileges - The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. The Internet coordinator will deem what is inappropriate use and that decision is final. The administration, faculty, and staff of the District may request the Internet coordinator to deny, revoke, or suspend specific individuals from use of the Internet.

B. Educational Purpose - The Internet is provided to help fulfill the mission of USD 251 by providing educational resources. The following activities are prohibited because they do not serve an educational purpose and may even interrupt the work of other users.

1. Do no download graphics, software, or audio files unless they support work being done in the classroom and you have the permission of a teacher.

2. Do not access chat rooms.

3. Do not download or play games.

4. Do not send or read personal email. If a student needs to use email for school related research, the school’s mailbox may be used with the permission of a teacher.

5. Do not purchase good and services. The district will not be responsible for any financial obligation you may incur.

C. Inappropriate Material - The following kinds of material are inappropriate at school. Students searching for or viewing material with inappropriate content will lose their Internet privileges for three days. If material is accidentally loaded, then the student will be expected to return immediately to the previous page or exit the program as soon as the material is recognized as inappropriate.

1. Material which advocates discrimination or violence towards other people. This includes, but is not limited to, material promoting racism and hate literature.

2. Sites describing or advocating illegal activities. These include, but are not limited to, illegal drug activities and illegal weapons.

3. Sites advertising or promoting alcohol and tobacco use.

4. Sites with sexually explicit, graphic, or suggestive material.

If a student needs to access this kind of material as part of a legitimate school assignment and has a clear purpose for doing so, the student may access it under the guidance of the teacher. These arrangements must be made before the student is working at the computer.

This list is not intended to describe all the material which may be considered inappropriate, unethical, or illegal but students are expected to know that these particular kinds of sites will result in losing Internet privileges for three days.

D. Netiquette - You should always be polite to other users, both at school and elsewhere. In addition, you are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette which include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. If you need to communicate with other users over the Internet,

a. Be polite. Do not get abusive in your messages to others.

b. Use appropriate language. Do not use profanities or obscenities. Do not threaten others.

2. Students who are surfing or doing personal research will be asked to log off for a student who needs the Internet for a school assignment. Students are expected to log off immediately and politely. Students who bump another student to do school work are then expected to do school work. If they begin to surf, they will return to class.

3. Students using the computers agree to study quietly, talk softly and work in ways which will not disturb other users.

E. Personal Information and Safety

1. you will not provide personal contact information about yourself or other people. Personal contact information includes any phones numbers and addresses at which you may be contacted such as home, work, school, etc.

2. The student may give personal contact information if necessary in legitimate research (to sites which provide scholarship information for example) with the approval of a teacher.

3. You will not agree to meet with someone you have met online without your parent’s approval. Your parent should accompany you to this meeting in a public place.

F. Copyright - Users are expected to obey copyright laws. A creative work is automatically protected by copyright from the moment it is created. This means that the creator has the exclusive right to copy, modify, distribute, and perform the work. This is based on the idea that people have a right to compensation for their creative work. You will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by copyright.

1. Do not copy or install commercial software.

2. Give credit to your sources in all your work. Give credit to any material you may use, not just print information, but also pictures, software video, audio, and graphics, etc.

3. If a work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, you should follow the expressed requirements.

4. Copyright law can be confusing. If you have questions, ask the librarian.

G. Vandalism - Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware, software, data or the network. This includes, but not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.

H. USD 251 makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. USD 251 will not be responsible for any damages you suffer. This includes loss of data or service interruptions caused by it’s own negligence or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at your own risk. USD 251 specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.

School District Internet Use Agreement

I understand and will abide by the above Internet Use Agreement. I further understand that any violation of the regulations above is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked, school disciplinary action may be taken, and/or appropriate legal action.

User’s Full Name: ___________________________________

User Signature: _____________________________________

(If the student is not 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must also sign.)

I understand that the district cannot be responsible for direct supervision of every student while he or she is using the Internet, and I will not hold the district responsible for controversial materials which may be accessed on the Internet.

Parent or Guardian’s signature ______________________________

Date: ___________________________

Personal Web Pages

Students may wish to post a personal Web page on a server which is not affiliated with the school district. USD 251 believes that there is educational value in learning to design a Web page and will permit a student to work on a personal Web page as an education activity. However, the network has been established for educational use only. It has not been established as a public access service or a public forum and the district has a right to place reasonable restrictions on the material users access or post through the system.

Both the student and his or her parent or guardian must be aware that a personal Web page gives the individual a presence on the Web. The student becomes an active participant in a worldwide community with million of users who will have access to information about the student. If the student or parent is uncomfortable with the fact that others will have access to information about you, then a personal Web page should not be designed and posted.

This agreement extends the Acceptable Use Policy and describes the conditions which must be met to use the school’s computers and network to work on personal Web pages.

Terms and Conditions

A. A student working on a personal Web page with the school’s equipment will follow all guidelines in the Acceptable Use Policy. In addition, the student and parent also agreed to the additional guidelines described below.

B. Copyright - You will not present another’s work as your own. You will respect the right of copyright owners. If you are unsure whether or not you can use a work, you should request permission from the copyright owner.

C. Content

1. You will not use the system to engage in any illegal activities.

2. You will not use obscene, profane, vulgar, inflammatory, threatening or disrespectful language.

3. You will not post material which is sexually suggestive or explicit.

4. You will not engage in prejudicial or discriminatory attacks aimed at individuals, groups, or organizations.

5. You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person, group or organization.

6. You will not engage in commercial activities. This means you may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services.

7. You will not post material for private businesses, associations, or political campaign organizations.

8. You will not post information that, if acted upon, could cause damage, danger, or disruption.

9. You will not link your page to others which contain any content described above.

D. Privacy

You will not post private information about another person.

E. Personal Information and Safety - Personal safety is important when others have access to information about you. For that reason, the guidelines in the Acceptable Use Policy are repeated and expanded here.

1. You will post only your name and e-mail address on the page.

2. You will not provide personal contact information about yourself or other people. This includes phone numbers and addresses at home, work, school, etc.

3. You will not agree to meet with someone you have met online without your parent’s approval. Your parent should accompany you to this meeting in a public place.

4. Remember that people online may not be who they seem.

5. Although you will not be sending or receiving personal e-mail at school, never respond to a message which makes you uncomfortable. Tell your parents immediately.

I understand and will abide by the above guidelines in addition to the Acceptable Use Policy.

User’s Signature ________________________________________

I give permission for my student to design and post a personal Web page on a server which is not affiliated with USD 251. I give permission for my son or daughter to use their full name and e-mail address on the page.

Parent or Guardian’s Signature ___________________________________

Date: ________________________________________